Folding chair



NOV. 26, 1929. l VERMAN 1,736,804

FOLDING CHAIR Filed April 4, 1927 Emmi? 1756130]? SzZvcvmazz s 50\ 4 flgy Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES.

JOSEPH SILVERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOLDING CHAIR Application filed April 4,

This invention relates to folding chairs and its objects are the provision of a generally improved and simplified brace structure for bracing the chair against the up and down, diagonal and other stresses which are imposed, and a brace structure which will 'fold compactly into the plane of the frame of the chair and which will permit folding and unfolding of the chair, as well as accommodate itself compactly and effectively to the folded and unfolded positions of the chair.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a chair embodying the present invention, showing the chair in open or unfolded position for use and taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view with the chair in open or unfolded position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view. looking towards the bottom of the seat of the chair in folded position; and

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4+4: of Fig. 3 and showing the chair in folded position.

While the present invention is not limited to a particular chair, it has been found particularly advantageous in connection with the chair structure disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 172,321, filed March 3, 1927, and I have, for purposes of illustration, shown the invention in connection with the chair structure of the foregoing application.

Referring to the drawing, the chair shown comprises generally an inverted U-shaped frame 10, having parallel sides 12, closed at the top and open at their lower ends at 14. The lower free ends 14 of the sides of the frame 10 form one pair of legs of the chair.

A second pair of legs 16 are pivoted between their ends at 17 between and to the opposite sides 12 of the frame 10. A seat 18 fits between the sides 12 of the frame 10 and has fixed pivotal connection at each of its oppo site sides with the sides 12 at 19. The seat 18 also has sliding pivotal connection through bars Orlinks 20 and a suitable rod 21 with the upper ends of the pivoted legs 16. The

1927. Serial No. 180,701.

lower leg forming ends 14; of the sides 12 and the legs 16 may be braced crosswise or transversely by cross braces 23 and 24, as in the application above referred to.

The frame 10, legs 16 and cross braces 23. and 2 1-, selected for illustration, are of the construction disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 128,737, filed August 12, 1926. The upper surface of the seat 18 may be padded and covered as desired.

The fixed pivots 19, which pivotally secure the opposite sides of the seat to the sides 12 of the frame 10 may be in the form of rivets passing through the flat intermediate webs of the sides 12 of the frame, and through the depending vertical side flange 25 of the seat. The opposite ends of the rivets 18 may be permanently headed, or removable nuts may, of course, be provided to permit detachment of these connections, if desired.

One of the bars or links 20 is disposed on the inside of each side of the seat frame 25, and preferably up in the plane of the depending flange 25, as shown in Fig. 1. The bars 20 have depending flanges 28, which are disposed vertically when the chair is unfolded, as shown in Fig. 1, and at their rear ends the bars 20 are pivoted to the frame 10 and seat frame 25 through the pivotal connections 19.

The outer or free ends of the bars 20 are curved to conform with the rounded corners of the seat frame 25 and are detachably secured to the depending flange of the seat frame as by means of bolts and nuts 29. The flat intermediate webs at the upper ends of the legs 16 are cut away at 30 and the upper: ends of one of the tubular sides or marginal edges of the legs 16 are cutaway at 32 to permit the inner end of the seat to swing between the sides 12 of the frame 10 and into the plane of the frame when the chair is folded. Theother tubular margin of each leg 16 continues upwardly at 33.

The pivotal and sliding connection between the upper ends of the legs and the seat of the chair is formed by the cross rod 21 which extends transversely across the bottom of the seat frame 25 and through longitudinal slots 35 in the depending flanges 28 of the bars 20. ar y of e g 911; od. 21 at tions.

The notches 38 in the rear corners of the seat frame, for receiving the tubular extensions 33 of the legs 16 when thecha-ir isfolded, so that the seat and legs will assume a parallel relation and lie between the sides 12of'the frame 10 and in the plane-of the? frame-10- when the chair is folded, may be formed by angular cuts in-vthe flange 25' at the; opposite rear.- corners and-by bendingjor striking the freed tongues inwardly, as shown.

To fold thechair, from the open position shown; in Fig. 1, the"outer end of the seat 18- is swungupwardly about the pivots 19 into position between-thesides 12 of the frame 10. and into-the plane: thereof, as shown in Fig. 42 This: upward-swinging of the seat 18 is accompanied by a; combined pivotal and sliding action. ofthe; rod 21 in the slots 35, the upper: ends of the 1egs16 closing. into the planeof the. seatl frame and the transverse pivotalqandsliding portion of the'ro'd -21 slid ing inwardly in .therslots: 35- tothe position shown: in? dotted lines'in Fig. 4-,. whereupon thelegs 16 and seate18 are: disposed parallel and both between and in the plane of the frame sides 12.

The brace means with which. the present invention is: particularly concerned, comprises-a pain. of: diagonal braces 42 and 43. These braces 42 and :43 fare preferably formed of; metallic. strips, the" widths of which extend: in the directionof the widths of: the sidesv 14' of the; frame. 10;. They cross. one anothersubstantially centrally between the sides of: the frame: at 45 and are. preferably twisted or. turned to? dispose" their widths where they crosssat; 45 generally normal'to the 'i'rectionu of. extension. of the widtlrof the frame: sides; 14;. The crossing. portions 45. are; secured. together; as. bymeans of a rivet 463 Theupperiends of. the: cross: braces 42 and 4312are turned; to lie parallel: with. theframe sides". 141 and: one between each i of the sides andtheadjacentside: of the frame; These upper: ends;- areaapertured.and'pivotedi at .48

iipoirthe ipivotal coimeetions 19;. Just below therpivoteel. ends-48? the bracesa42 and 43; are rounded at? 5.0:to: conforrrr with the rounded IlIIIIB ICOI'IIBFSL'OfYthG seat frame andzto :receiveitheinner: endof thex-seatrframe betweenstlre upper ends" of the braces so: that thee braces f and: seat: frame; may all: lie sub.- stantially; parallelrand. imthe plane ofrthe 5 12? Ofifthfit frame: 10: whenthev chair is fdldedri f Thea lowerends. (Fig, of; the braces :42

and 43 are turned at 52 to lie adjacent and parallel with the legs 16. The lower parallel ends 52 of the braces are provided with longitudinal slots 53 through which slots these lower ends of the braces have pivotal and sliding connection with the legs 16 through pins or rivets 54,.the shanks-of which extend through the slots 53 and are suitably secured in the legs 16. The inner ends of the pins or rivets 54 may be headed and the opposite ends may berivetedinto the legs 16. Suitable spacers may be provided on the shanks of these pins or rivets 54 between the legs 16 and the parallellower ends 52 of the cross braces 42 and 43.

then the'chair isfolded, thebraces 42 and 43: receive the rear end of theseat between them at their upper ends andiliesubsta-ntially parallel with the seat andsub'stair tially parallel with the sides; 12 of the frame 10. andbetween andin the plane of the frame 10. They permit and accommodate them.- se-l-ves to the compact. folding. action in'the other'parts of the chair and,..as the chair is unfolded for use, these. braces 42. and. 43 swing about the pivots-19 and 54. at their opposite ends intothe generally vertical positions shown in Fig. .1; Theswingingof the lower ends of the. braces 42 and- 43" in the unfolding or opening of the chair is accompanied by a slid-ingaction ofthelower slotted ends 52 downwardly upon thepins or rivets 54, andthe folding" of the chair is accompanied byan upward slidingactioniof these lower ends 52 with an accompanying pivotal action on the pins- 54' and an accompanying pivotal action betweenthe upper ends. of. the braces 42 and 43-and the seat" framev 25 and frame-lO-tovclose or fold. the braces 42 and 43 into: theplane: ofthefiame 10.

In an actual embodiment of. the invention, 1 find that the braces 42 and-43 effectively brace and strengthen-the chair and. particularly the seat against-upanddown stresses, as well as against diagonal stresses from either side. and the various:- other stresses which are-imposed upon the chair.

The lower ends of the legs 14 and 16 are preferably provided with feet or buffers in the form of blocks 80, preferably of rubber or the like. Any; other: suitable feet than those shown of course-be provided.

a seat pivoted thereto to. swing upwardly therebe-tween, a-second pair of legs pi-votedto saidfirstlegs at a point other thanthe. pivot of the seaton said firstlegs andihaving slidiin-g; pivotal connection with suclr seat: and brace meaaispivoted at the-pivoted connection between the seatand said first legsand having sliding pivotal 1 connection. with said? second legs, said brace meansinterposing a bracing action between. theseat pivot and said-second legs and disposed substantially wholly: below 1.. In; a; folding chair, a first pair of. legs;

the upwardly folding portions of the seat and below the seat pivot in folded and unfolded positions.

2. In a folding chair, a first pair of legs, a seat having pivotal connection therewith, a second pair of legs pivoted to said first legs and having sliding pivotal connection with said seat, and a pair of diagonal cross braces folding in a plane parallel with the plane of fold of the seat and having their upper ends extending between said first legs and the opposite sides of the seat and pivoted upon the pivotal connections therebetween, said brace means interposing a bracing action between the seat pivot and said second legs and disposed substantially wholly below the upwardly folding portion of the seat and below the seat pivot in folded and unfolded positions.

3. In a folding chair, a first pair of legs, a second pair of legs, a swinging seat having a seat pivot on one pair of legs and cross braces having pivotal connection with one pair of legs at the seat pivot and sliding pivotal connection with the other of said pairs of legs, said second pair of legs having pivotal connection with said first legs and sliding pivotal connection with said seat and said cross braces interposing a bracing action between the seat pivot and said last referred to legs and disposed substantially wholly below the seat pivot in folded and unfolded positions.

4. In a folding chair, a first pair of legs, a second pair of legs, a swinging seat having a seat pivot on one pair of legs and cross braces having pivotal connection with one pair of legs at the seat pivot and sliding pivotal connection with the other of said pairs of legs, said second pair of legs having pivotal connection with said first legs and sliding pivotal connection with said seat and said cross braces having fixed angular relation with respect to each other and each extending diagonally between the leg of one pair of legs on one side of the chair and the opposite leg of the other pair of legs 011 the opposite side of the chair.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of March, 1927.

JOSEPH SILVERMAN. 

